Every other week, the to-be pilgrims meet in the mission’s youth center. They talk logistics, share their faith and pray together. Sometimes, they randomly break into chants of “USA, USA,” as they plan to do in Brazil.

They intend to bring rubber bracelets emblazoned with the letters “USA,” along with hundreds of lapel pin crosses set on American flags. The pins and a large American flag were gifts from the Knights of Columbus.

For their customized T-shirts, the youths have decided that one will have Pope Francis’ picture — maybe on electric blue, maybe green. Another T-shirt will say, “keep calm and pray on.”

All of these are valuable trading items with participants from other countries.

The travelers, ranging from 13 to 21 years old, also have deeper goals for the trip: greater understanding, deeper faith, fuller acceptance or discovery of their life missions, abundant learning from other Catholics. And they want to learn songs of praise in other languages.

The origins of the Oceanside group arose two decades ago between friends Margi Arguello and Betty Domingo. The women heard that World Youth Day was taking place in Denver and for years since then, they tried without success to get permission from the parish to organize a trip.

Last year, the pastor said yes.

“We didn’t think of everything we would have to do, we just trusted that it would happen,” Domingo said. “It’s a big adventure.”

Feeding the youths’ spirituality has been as important as raising money for the journey, she said. During some Masses, the participants have sat together. Several times now, the youths have spoken publicly about the upcoming pilgrimage.

Rose Paz, whose 15-year-old daughter Stephanie Paz is going to Brazil, said the trip will allow Stephanie to share her faith with teens from around the world.

“In America we are so jaded, we don’t think of our young people as so evolved. But they do have a say and they do listen and they are involved and they do care,” Paz said. “Adults just need to pay attention.”

Maggie Amezcua, 21, who joined the Oceanside group from St. Francis church in Vista, hopes the experience will be spiritually invigorating. When she started college three years ago, her faith waned as she went through some struggles and needed support.

“This group helped me pick up my faith again,” she said. “This will help me get through life, this will help me say no to the evil stuff.”

The pilgrimage is set to begin with an official welcome by the Archbishop of Rio. Throughout the week, participants will attend catechesis sessions with church leaders, learn how they can contribute to the global mission of the church join in a ritual known as the stations of the cross.

The final evening will start with a vigil at Guaratiba, where pilgrims will walk about eight miles to reach the site of the final Mass with Pope Francis. They’ll spend the night there under the stars.

To prepare for the long hike, the Oceanside group has been walking together every weekend at parks, along the San Luis Rey River Trail and at the beach.